IF you are new to LED and want help choosing what to buy, POST HERE!

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anyone done a grow with the California lightworks 220watt full cycle? just ordered one. curious to see what this baby can do.
 
rawpot420 said:
Thanks any advice in what to use?
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That really depends on what your budget is.
The Hans Panel, Area 51, and Apache Tech, are all considered top choices in their price ranges.
Be wary of buying cheap LED lights off of Ebay or Amazon, they usually don't last long, and they rarely perform as advertised.
Good luck.
 
I think we can add Bud Boss to the good choice list

Bad Karma said:
That really depends on what your budget is.
The Hans Panel, Area 51, and Apache Tech, are all considered top choices in their price ranges.
Be wary of buying cheap LED lights off of Ebay or Amazon, they usually don't last long, and they rarely perform as advertised.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
 
I'm using Spectrum King full spectrum led lights. Having fabulous results so far. Expensive and seems to be worth every penny. I'd recommend looking into this particular brand.
 
Hi - I bought a speaker box to use as a micro grow. It is 32"x18"x12", so fairly small. It will be using a hydro-system and it comes with 3 small CFLs. I want to upgrade the lighting with a LED system. I am severely size constrained due to the 18" width which is actually ~16" inside dimensions. I am considering the 135w BlackStar LED (UFO) for $180 at http://www.gothamhydroponics.com/fe...e-hydro-blackstar-135w-led-grow-light-uv.html

I am very open to other LEDs, and do not mind paying up to $250 if it means a better grow and overall better light that I will use for many years and potentially in a bigger box in the future.

What are your thoughts on this BlackStar 135w for my box size? Are there any other options you can recommend? Your help is very appreciated.

I also took notice to this one which seems a bit higher wattage @ 180w and is also 6band w/ 3w chips. A bit cheaper too. http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GL60LED-Spectrum-Growing/dp/B00FGFW0XO

Thanks,
Lavawm
 
^^^I don't think a lot of people are comfortable recommending BS and Apollos anymore. I mean there are worse panels out there but nowadays DIY is getting so simple it's tough to tell you to buy something that's just not that good and will probably not last that much longer than it's warranty when you can easily build something that will almost certainly last you. If you are the type of person who takes care of their shit then you could get some life out of those UFOs. Still, with your size limitations, COB and Multi-chip based lights might be a better answer for you than UFOs. Good Luck!
 
Fran- what's with the blank PM? I was halfway scared to reply and say somethin, I hope you have been safe man! Wondered about yah... Give me a shout let me know how you're doin.

Those vipars still kickin?
 
^^^^ What up gang? Glad you're all safe and sound. And yes that Vipar is still kickin Scotch, albeit it doesn't seem to be as powerful as it once was. Some of the blue LED's caps have clouded up a bit. Still, +1 for the Chinese budget panel makers and it's either coming down this summer and being replaced or I might upgrade the diodes using either Avago or Seoul LEDs. Those effing Chinese gull wing rounds make upgrading to something more mainstream a bitch. Still the best thing would be to remove the diodes, sand blast the aluminum plate the LEDs are mounted on and have someone etch a new circuit design on it. The killer Vipar case alone makes doing something like that worth it. Something like an Illumitex/Cree MKR main panel in my tent would be a blast.

See ya round fellas.
 
FranJan said:
^^^I don't think a lot of people are comfortable recommending BS and Apollos anymore. I mean there are worse panels out there but nowadays DIY is getting so simple it's tough to tell you to buy something that's just not that good and will probably not last that much longer than it's warranty when you can easily build something that will almost certainly last you. If you are the type of person who takes care of their shit then you could get some life out of those UFOs. Still, with your size limitations, COB and Multi-chip based lights might be a better answer for you than UFOs. Good Luck!
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hi fran - thanks for your insight into what the board recommends these days. I am on my pre-first grow so I don't feel comfortable building an LED from scratch at this point. I really wouldn't know where to start...

Im just looking to have a quiet light that puts out enough good light to grow 2 or 3 small autos in a micro box for personal supply. From what I get from your post, a Blackstar or Apollo will do the job for a small grow but is probably not the cheapest choice.

i don't know what a COB and multi-chip based light is, so I'll have to give that topic some reading into. thx for pointing me in that direction.
 
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